Discover what to do in Colceresa: cherries festival, the hedgehog trail, the church of Mason Vicentino. Want to know more? First of all…
Where is Colceresa?
The municipality of Colceresa borders to the north with Marostica, to the southeast with Schiavon, to the southwest with Breganze, to the east with Marostica and Schiavon, to the west with Salcedo, Fara Vicentino and Breganze.
The church of Mason
Located at Via Chiesa 50, the majestic neoclassical place of worship features a gable facade punctuated by four mighty Corinthian half-columns above which rest the architrave, frieze and denticulated triangular pediment crowned by three sculptures.
Accessible via a white staircase, the parish church presents a massive wooden door flanked on the left by the statue of Saint Peter holding the key symbol of the kingdom of heaven, on the right by the statue of Saint Paul with the sword (I’m not sure). The elegant garments worn by the two figures are distinguished by elaborate drapery that attest to the talent and mastery of the artist who created them.
The interior of the building, characterized by a single large and well-lit hall, is punctuated by Ionic half-columns (recognizable by the refined acanthus scrolls) that frame precious altars set in side niches surmounted by round arches.
Also of notable architectural interest is the lunetted pavilion vault, through which sunlight filters creating suggestive chiaroscuro effects.
If you are wondering what to do in Colceresa, the church of Sant’Andrea is one of the most fascinating cultural landmarks of the charming municipality born from the union of Mason Vicentino and Molvena.
Cherries Festival
One of the most characteristic and anticipated events of Molvena, the Cherries Festival celebrates the sweet and exquisite fruit considered the flagship of the industrious rural community, a symbol of uniqueness and excellence of products that only the fertile and sunny land set in the heart of the Vicenza area can offer.
The event takes place every year between late May and early June in Piazza degli Alpini and includes peaceful outdoor excursions, fun sports and recreational activities suitable for participants of all ages, thrilling theatrical performances, exciting concerts as well as food and wine stands and a market exhibition aimed at narrating and promoting the history of the native cherry from which the municipality takes its name.
For nature lovers who want to discover and appreciate the inimitable aroma of the exquisite fruit immersed in the dreamlike landscape of gentle hills dotted with cherry trees in bloom, the Cherries Festival will be an unforgettable experience!
The hedgehog trail
This pleasant itinerary is one of four routes designed to enhance the potential of the municipality’s landscape heritage and the remarkable complexity of tree, flower and fauna biodiversity that distinguishes it.
The hedgehog trail is the shortest of the four accessible (the network of routes also includes those of the squirrel, hare and roe deer).
The route starts from the elementary school in Via Monteferro. Cross the pedestrian crossing and proceed south until you reach the trattoria da Battista, a period building bearing a fresco depicting a mountain landscape on the northeast wall.
Take the stone road that flanks the northwest wall of the restaurant, a charming paved route that crosses lush vineyards, silvery olive groves and well-kept hedges until you reach Via Don Girolamo Carli. Turn right and after about 60 meters turn right again into Via Mazzarina.
From Via Mazzarina go to Via Costabernardo, bordered by charming dry stone walls, from which you can admire the boundless rural scenery of grassy slopes clad in dense vegetation of acacias, figs, holm oaks and the inevitable cherry trees that between March and April emit vibrant hues ranging from bright white to bright pink of soft crowns that stand out against the warm spring sky.
After about 270 meters the path continues to your right along a trail, flanked by a wooden fence, that descends the green slope entering a fairy-tale woodland grove crossed by clear streams and traversed by paths covered in autumn with a thick layer of crunchy golden leaves.
The trail emerges onto Via Costadema. Turn left and proceed north along Via Costadema for 600 meters among ancient stone houses wrapped in the foliage of poplars, olive trees, acacias. Reaching the fork where a wayside shrine stands, keep right and proceed along the climb that enters the path strewn with rocks and centuries-old trees.
The last section of the itinerary extends for 1.3 km, southwards, along the paved road of Via Collalto.
